The sun rose on a glorious Sunday morning, and Ben Cartwright, looking at his sons, was thankful for each one of them. Joe had come downstairs a little late, but he was dressed and ready for church. Ben, Hoss, and Adam stared at him in surprise - Joe usually had to be dragged out of bed and scolded into attending church.
"Well, gentlemen, if you've eaten your fill, let's get ready for church. Joe, you're already dressed, so if you'll help me hitch up the buggy -"
"It's done, Pa. I've done the barn chores, hitched up the buggy, and saddled Cochise."
"Joe, if you were a little younger, I'd think it was the week before Christmas - it isn't that I don't appreciate your hard work, son, but why?" Ben asked.
Joe blushed to the roots of his hair. "Well, Pa, I'm just so grateful that Hoss is - that he didn't have - I'm glad Hoss is going to be all right. I'm glad Adam's home and his back is going to be better - I mean, well, I know he has to walk with a cane for now and can't ride, but someday he may be able to walk without it and ride again - I'm just - just grateful, Pa." He stuttered to a stop, and, too embarrassed to look at his brothers, he muttered, "I'll wait outside," and walked out the door.
Ben, Hoss, and Adam looked at each other and laughed. They appreciated Joe and understood what he was too shy to say.
...
"Will, I wish you'd come to church with us," Laura said. "Everyone will think it odd if we don't attend as a family."
"Laura, I've hitched Miss Betsy to the buggy, and she's ready to take you and Peggy to church. I was out all night, and I'm tired. Now, please, leave me be." Laura left his bedroom and shut the door behind her.
When Will had come in early that morning, he'd gone straight to the barn and led Miss Betsy out to hitch her to the buggy. He wanted to give her plenty of time to settle down before Laura drove herself and Peggy to church. The old horse fought him almost all the way, but she was no match for his new strength. He led her around to the front of the house. Laura was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, and Will waited for her to unlock the door and let him in.
"Did you see any wolves last night?" she asked.
"The herd is fine," he told her, and went to his bedroom. He put on his nightshirt and lay down. Laura knocked on the door. "Come," he said.
"Would you like some coffee?" she asked.
"No, thank you, Laura. I'm tired and I just want to sleep." He closed his eyes and heard her leave.
He heard a knock on his door, and he called, "Come."
Peggy peeped around the door. She was wearing her pink dress and carried Felicia. "Do you feel all right, Will?" she asked.
"I feel fine, darling." He opened his arms, and she ran to the bed and hugged him. She kissed his cheek and giggled. "You're all scratchy."
"I know - I need to shave. You and Felicia go to church with your Mommy, and I'll stay here and rest.
Laura called, "Peggy, come on - it's time to go."
Peggy ran out and climbed up in the buggy next to her mother. Will watched them through the window as Laura slapped the reins across Miss Betsy's back and they rode off towards town. Will kept his eyes on the horse to see if she was still nervous, but she seemed to have settled down. Laura wouldn't have any trouble driving her.
When they were out of sight, Will got up, took a bath, and shaved. He looked at his hands and saw that hair was beginning to grow from the palms of his hands. He shaved his palms, and then studied his face in the mirror. His eyes were changing - they were paler. Well, maybe no one would notice it, he hoped. As he stared into the mirror, he remembered what Ayesha told him and knew that he was running out of time as a human.
He went to the desk and pulled out several sheets of paper, pen, and ink. At the top of the first one he wrote, Last Will and Testament of William Cartwright. When he finished, he took up the second sheet of paper and wrote, Dear Ben...
...
Laura and Peggy arrived at church, and Peggy saw Adam. "Hey, Uncle Adam!" she shouted across the yard. Laura shushed her, "Ladies don't shout at gentlemen, Peggy."
Adam heard Peggy call him. He turned and waved at her, and she motioned to him. There was no help for it, so all four Cartwrights walked across to Laura and Peggy.
"Good morning, ladies. Is Will not with you today?"
"No, he's stayed out all night guarding our cattle from the wolf pack. He's resting now," Peggy said. She held her arms out to Adam. "Lift me down, Uncle Adam, please."
Joe stepped up. "Uncle Adam's back is still hurting him, Peggy. Will you let me lift you?" She nodded, and Joe lifted the little girl down from the buggy. He set her on her feet, and Peggy smiled at him. With Felicia under her arm, she took Adam's hand and pulled him towards the church.
Ben reached up to lift Laura down. When he set her down, she wobbled a bit, and he caught her arm. "I'm sorry, Laura, did I hurt you?"
Laura looked up at him and smiled. "No, it's so silly - I tripped last night and sprained my ankle - it's nothing." Ben offered her his arm, and she took it as they went into church together. They sat together in one pew - Hoss, Ben, Laura, Joe, Peggy, and Adam. Laura noticed that Adam was careful to keep a distance from her and his family was helping him.
Dave Clayton motioned to Adam to come to the front and handed him his guitar. Adam began to play and lead the congregation in a hymn. As he stood facing the group, Adam noticed Mary Rogers and her children, Jonathan and Caroline. She stood between them, and held Jonathan's hand tightly in hers. Adam watched as Jonathan looked across at his sister, and quickly made a face at her. Caroline giggled, and Mary put her hand on the little girl's shoulder.
Adam was tempted to laugh at Jonathan's antics. He stood at the front, played the guitar, and looked at Mary. She was as pretty as he remembered, and he wanted to get to know her better.
After the hymn, the congregation sat down, and Dave stood up. He spoke quietly and sincerely, and gave his flock something to think about during the coming week. He finished the sermon, and Adam led the final hymn. The service was over, and families made their way out.
Laura and Peggy left with the others, but Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Joe were staying for the funeral. Adam noticed that Lucy Clayton, Mary and her children were staying as well. Sheriff Roy Coffee and Miss Amelia Miller came into the church along with Paul and Marian Martin. The group moved up towards the altar, and Dave brought out the little coffin that Hoss had made, and placed it on the table in front of the lectern. He opened his Bible and began to read, "And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10: 13-16)
Adam was sitting next to Hoss, and he felt his brother tense up as Dave read the verses. He put his hand on Hoss's shoulder and gradually felt him relax.
"The Lord has clasped this boy to Himself in tender love. He instructed us to "suffer the little children to come unto Him, and forbid them not." The going of this unknown babe has brought heaven nearer to us. God is pleased that this little boy is with Him. The Father of the Shepherd of the little lambs has taken him home.
"Every person here today was touched by the plight of this baby: Hoss Cartwright, the one who found him and brought him here to us and who made this tiny coffin for him; Sheriff Roy Coffee and Dr. Paul Martin who examined his earthly remains in the hope that they might discover something about him; Mary Rogers who made his shroud ; and Miss Amelia Miller who gave the grave where he will lie. All, all of us were touched by the suffering of this child. As we mourn his loss, let us rejoice in his new life in Heaven."
Dave called for prayer. "We therefore commit this child to You, Lord. His life was brief and ended terribly. We rejoice that his suffering is over, and that he rests in Your ams. Let us not mourn him but let us see what he sees. Amen."
He opened his Bible once more and read, "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:16-17)
The service over, Hoss wiped his face with Adam's handkerchief. The group made its way out of the church. Marian Martin, Amelia Miller, and Mary Rogers were wiping their eyes, and Mary was holding her children close to her.
Dave came out of the church, and Lucy went to him and hugged him. "Andy is watching Joy and Davey," she said. "You were so eloquent."
"Thank you, sweetheart. I want to check on Hoss." Dave said. He led Lucy over to the Cartwrights. "Thank you for coming to the service. Hoss, how are you?'
"I'm fine, thanks, Dave."
Dave put a hand out to him. "Hoss, I'm here if you need to talk to someone, if you need someone to pray with you. I know you have a wonderful family, but there are times when it might be hard - when it might be easier for you to talk with an outsider."
Hoss was touched by Dave's offer. "Thank you, Dave, I'll remember it."
Ben and Adam approached Mary Rogers and her children. "Mrs. Rogers, I'd like to introduce my father, Ben Cartwright. Mrs. Rogers has a ladies' store here in town, Pa, and she makes clothes as well. These are her children, Jonathan and Caroline. Mrs. Rogers made a shroud for the baby."
"That was very kind of you, Mrs. Rogers."
"Not at all, Mr. Cartwright. I couldn't have done anything else." She looked up at Adam. "You have a good memory, Mr. Cartwright. We met several days ago and you remembered me and my children."
"I pay attention, Mrs. Rogers." Adam smiled down at her. Jonathan pulled on his sleeve. "Are you a real cowboy? Mama said we might meet one when we moved out here, but so far we haven't." He sounded disappointed.
Adam laughed. "Yes, Jonathan, I'm a real cowboy. My brothers, Hoss and Joe, are over there." Adam pointed them out. "They're cowboys, too. Would you like to meet them?"
"Would I!" Mary nodded her permission, and Adam led the little boy over to Hoss and Joe. As they walked over to his brothers, Jonathan noticed Adam's cane. "Is that why you walk with a cane? Because you got hurt being a cowboy?"
Adam smiled down at him "Not quite." Hoss and Joe were standing next to the buggy, waiting for Ben and Adam. Adam introduced his brothers to Jonathan. "Hoss, Joe, this young man is Jonathan Rogers, and he's anxious to meet a couple of real cowboys. I told him I'd introduce you." Hoss and Joe looked down and smiled at Jonathan. They shook hands with him, and Jonathan looked up at Hoss. "You're so tall!"
Hoss smiled down at him. "That I am, young fellow. How tall do you think I am?"
Jonathan stood back and looked Hoss up and down. "About...ten feet."
They all laughed, and Hoss said, "I guess it would look that way to you." He swung Jonathan up to his shoulder. "How's that? Now you're about ten feet up."
Jonathan looked around. "I like it!"
Hoss set him back down after a minute. "There you go. You tell your mama to let you come out to the Ponderosa sometime. We'll teach you how to ride and rope - everything a cowboy ought to know."
Jonathan's eyes were huge. "Thank you."
Adam led him back to Mary. "Mama, did you hear that?"
"Yes, Jonathan, I did, and I heard you say "thank you." I'm very glad you remembered your manners after Mr. Cartwright was so nice to you." She looked up at Adam and smiled. "Thank you."
"It was my pleasure, Mrs. Rogers."
He watched her walk away with Jonathan and Caroline on either side.
"She's a sweet lady, Adam."
Adam turned to see Roy Coffee standing beside him. Roy grinned at him. "She puts me in mind of my Mary when she was young. You could do a lot worse."
"Are you matchmaking, Roy?"
"Yes," Roy kept grinning. "I'd like to see you settled and happy, and Mary Rogers is pretty, smart, and independent."